Football practice apparatus



Dec, 5, 195% R. H. BANBURY 2,532,88Q

FOOTBALL PRACTICE APPARATUS Filed Jan. 25, 1946 Patented Dec. 5, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE I *2,'5s2,ss0 i. l Q 7 1 FoO'rBALLrRACTICE APPARATUS RicIiardlLfBanbIn-r, nai tfora cohhf Application January 23, serial-N0;-

The invention relates particularly to an apparatus for instructing football players and for giving them practice and experience intackling. A-tackling dummy suspended from a framework has heretofore been commonly provided, *the dummy being tackled by the players in order to develop skill in tackling; However, a stationary dummy or even a dummy movable along a fixed path does not closely simulate the conditions of a football game, as the player knows in advance what the position of the dummy is or wi1l'be,-and there is no element of uncertaintyor surprise. Tackling dummies as heretofore provided; although useful, failed to provide the players with any close simulation of the-conditions encoum tered inactual play.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a means for supporting and moving from the construction shown, and that the draw- '1 i ing is not to be construed as defining or limiting the scope of the invention, the claims formingapart of this specification being relied'upon for. that purpose. I,

Of the drawing,-

.Figwl is a perspective ivieweof-T an apparatusembodying. the invention, a portion thereofnean the center being broken away to more clea lyshow some ofthe parts. A

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary-"sectional v-iew==-takenalong the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspectiyeview sum-- lar to the central portion of :F-i g-.- 1 -but com pletelyshowing -some ,of the =part,s which are broken away in F-ig. 1 :1- :3? Fig. 4 is a viewrsimilar to Fig.3 with some 'of the parts broken away andshown in section.-

Referring to the drawing, particularly Fig-f1; thereof, it will be seen that the apparatus-i111? cludes a main generally rectangulanframework; I0 mounted on upright-supportingposts i2,- i2: and. M, H. The details 0f;:th e framework l B. may; bewidely' varied, but as shown it comprisesrmain longitudinal side bars l;5, ,.,l 6 and frontand-"rean' IQSSJQfiIfiJB ahdjzlk ntjihecornersbf the fee-meg;

morn n (01.27 55) 7 workthe-bars 5, 16, I8'and 29' are connected witheach other and with the upright posts l2,

l2 and l4, M by means of'suitable'ccrner plates 22am 2A. The upright posts [2, I-2 and M; M are suitably supported in'the ground, and as shown; they are imbedded in concrete foundation blocks 25, 26 and 28. A e A In accordance with the invention; Iprovide means *for'moving a'tacklingdummy in agen erally longitudinal forward direction-and l 'also provide means for varying the'path of the said movement of the dummy so that the player-cannot foresee the'exact path, it being necessary for him to move-quickly in one direction or another according to the particular path of movement of the dummy which he isunableto predict or anticipate. The means for varying the path 'of movement "of the dummymay be widely varied but a preferredconstruction is shown in the drawing and will be described in detail.

Supported on the rear portion of the main framework is a longitudinal guide rail 30,- this being shown as an I-shapedrail supnorted'on the framework by cross members 32, 3'2. A carrierT-islongitudinallmmovable in a fixed path along the rail 3i], this carrier being in the form of atrolley 34 having supporting wheels 36-engaging the top surfaces ofthe two lower flanges of the I-shaped rail.v Only one of the wheels 36 is shown in the drawing, but it will be under stood that there is a similar'wheel 36 at theopposite side of the rail 30. The carrier 3 is provided with a hook 31 which serves to supportand carry a-tackling dummy 38. The dummv38 can be" any usual-or preferred construction.

"In order thatthe -path of movement-of the carrier- 34" may belvaried whenit.-reaches the front portion 'of the framework-two.optionally usableebranch rails la and--42are provided which are similar in size andincrosssectional shape t0-the main rail 30. -'The--railsl9 and-42 are supported on the -'front portion of "the main frameworkby cross members 44, A4. -'The two rails- 40 3111142 are-oppositely curved inward at thil"IE311'i pOll'/iOHS as shown? and a 'sWitCh' 'de vice? is provided --for--alternatively and optionally connecting one or the-'otherofthem with the main rail" 3!). As shown; the '-'switch' device is carried by a transverse channel "member '46 sup ported Jon the-main framework near the center thereof: :Arplate 481s :slidably movable in the channel 3&6 a'ndathe "plate carries 'adepen'dirig member 50 which extends through aslot 52 the channel: 161- (iarried byaithe *m'ember =50 at theicbottqm atherecf; isa plate" n54ziwhiehitcarnies two oppositely inclined rail elements 56 and 58 which are similar in size and in cross sectional shape to the main rail 38 and to the branch rails 48 and 42. The plate 48 and the parts carried thereby including the rail elements 56 and 58 are movable transversely either to bring the rail element 56 into position to bridge the space between the main rail 38 and the branch rail 48, or to bring the rail element 58 into position to bridge the space between the main rail 38 and the branch rail 42. Fig. 1 shows the rail element 56 connecting the main rail 38 and the branch rail 48 but by moving the switch toward the left the rail element 58. may be moved into position to connect the. main rail 38 with the branch rail 42.

The guide rail 38, the movable rail elements 56 and 58 and the rails 48 and 42 collectively constitute manually adjustable guiding means for the carrier 34, the carrier and dummy being guided by the guide means for movement in a enerally longitudinal forward direction. By manually adjusting the guiding means, specifically by moving the rail elements 56 and 58, the

carrier and dummy are guided along optionally different paths during the generally longitudinal forward movement thereof.

A suitable means is provided for rapidly moving the carrier 34 and the dummy 38 in the generally longitudinal forward direction. As shown, this means is a rope 68' connected with the carrier 34 and extending at the front over sheaves '62 and 64. At the front the rope 58 carries a weight 66 which tensions the rope to rapidly move the carrier and dummy forward. The weight is movable downward and upward in a substantially fixed path, and if necessary in order to provide a sufficient distance of travel for the weight 66, the concrete foundation block 28 may be provided with a hole 68 of sufiicient size and depth to permit the weight to enter it and move downward far enough to complete the necessary movement of the carrier and the dummy. The sheaves 62 and 64 constitute guiding means for the rope, and the sheave 62 enables a portion of the rope to shift transversely in accordance with variations in the path of movement of the carrier and dummy. The carrier 34 can be held against movement by the rope 68 by means of a manually releasable latch 18 connected with the rear crossbar 28 of the framework. The rails 48 and 42 are provided with stops 12 and 14 to prevent the carrier from running off from the front ends of the said rails.

A suitable means is provided for operating the switch device at a point remote therefrom, and as shown there are two ropes I6 and 18 both connected with the plate 48. The rope 16 at the left passes over sheaves 88, 82 and 84 to a position at or near the rear of the main framework. The rope 18 at the right passes over sheaves 86 and 88 to a position adjacent that of the rear portion of the rope 16.

In order that the player may not observe the position of the switch so as to be able to anticipate or predict the path of movement of the carrier and the dummy, I preferably provide a shield r bafiie at the front of the switch device and so positioned as to obstruct the view thereof from the front. As shown, there is a baflie 98' depending from the rear cross member 44, this having slots through which the rails 48 and 42 extend.

-In using the apparatus the player to be instructed stands. atthe front of the apparatus,

and if desired, between the front upright posts I2, I 2. The instructor, by manipulating the ropes l6 and 1B, adjusts the switch device to one position or the other so as to connect either the branch rail 48 Or the branch rail 42 with the main rail 38. On account of the baffle 86 the player cannot see the position of the switch device and therefore cannot know what the path of movement of the dummy will be. Then the instructor releases the latch 18 to permit the carrier and the dummy to be rapidly moved forward by means of the rope 68 and the weight 66. When the carrier reaches the front end of the rail 38 it is guided to the left or to the right according to the setting of the switch device and continues to travel along either the branch rail 48 or the branch rail 42. The player then tackles the dummy and inasmuch as he cannot know in advance which path the dummy will follow, he is confronted with a condition closely simulating that encountered inactual play and obtains valuable practice and experience. The instructor can observe his technique in tackling and can point out any errors and can instruct him as to proper tackling procedure.

What I claim is:

1. In a football practice apparatus, the combination of a main supporting framework, a movable carrier for a tackling dummy, means for moving the carrier and dummy in a generally longitudinal forward direction, and manually adjustable means supported by the framework for guiding the carrier and dummy along optionally different paths during the generally longitudinal forward movement thereof.

2. In a football practice apparatus, the combination of a main supporting framework, a movable carrier for a tackling dummy, means supported by the framework for guiding the carrier and the dummy for movement in a generally longitudinal forward direction, the said guiding means including a portion transversely movable relatively to the framework, and means manually operable from a position remote from the movable portion of the guiding means for transversely moving the said portion to vary the path of the generally longitudinal forward movement of the carrier and dummy.

3. In a football practice apparatus, the combination of a main supporting framework, a movable carrier for a tackling dummy, means supported by the framework for guiding the carrier and the dummy formovement in a generally longitudinal forward direction, the said guiding means including a portion transversely movable relatively to the framework, means for rapidly moving the carrier and dummy along the guiding means in the forward direction, and means manually operable from a position remote from the movable portion of the guiding means for transversely moving the said portion to vary the path of the generally longitudinal forward movement of the carrier and dummy.

4. In a football practice apparatus, the com bination of a main supporting framework, a movable carrier fora tackling dummy, means supported by the framework for guiding the carrier and the dummy for movement in a generally longitudinal forward direction, the said guiding means including a portion transversely movable relatively to the framework, means manually operable from a position remote from the movable portion of the guiding means for transversely moving the said portion to vary the path of the generally longitudinal forward movement of the carrier and dummy, a weight vertically movable in a substantially fixed path, a rope connected with the weight and with the carrier and enabling the former to rapidly move the latter in the forward direction along the guiding means, and rope guiding means supported by the framework and enabling a portion of the rope to shift transversely during movement of the carrier and dummy in accordance with variations in the path of the said movement.

5. In a football practice apparatus, the combination of a main supporting framework, a movable carrier for a tackling dummy, means supported by the framework for guiding the carrier and the dummy for movement in a generally longitudinal forward direction, the said guiding means including a portion transversely movable relatively to the framework, tension means for rapidly moving the carrier and dummy along the guiding means in the forward direction, a latch supported by the framework near the rear thereof for holding the carrier and dummy against movement by the tension means,

the said latch being optionally releasable manually to permit such movement, and means manually operable from a position near the rear of the framework and adjacent the latch for transversely moving the said movable portion of the guiding means to vary the path of the generally longitudinal forward movement of the carrier and dummy.

6. In a football practice apparatus, the combination of a movable carrier for a tackling dummy, 9. main guide rail for the carrier, a plurality of selectively usable branch guide rails for the carrier, a movable switch for connecting the main rail with any one of the branch rails, means manually operable from a position remote from the switch for moving the said switch, and

means for rapidly moving the carrier and dummy along the main rail and along the branch rail connected therewith by the switch.

7. In a football practice apparatus, the combination of a movable carrier for a tackling dummy, a main guide rail for the carrier, a plurality of selectively usable branch guide rails for the carrier, a movable switch for connecting the main rail with any one of the branch rails, means manually operable from a position at the rear of the apparatus for moving the said switch, and means for rapidly moving the carrier and dummy along the main rail and along the branch rail connected therewith by the switch.

8. In a football practice apparatus, the combination of a, main framework, a movable carrier for a tackling dummy, a main guide rail for the carrier supported on the rear portion of the framework, a plurality of selectively usable branch guide rails for the carrier supported on the front portion of the framework, a movable switch for connecting the main rail with any one of the branch rails, tension means for moving the carrier and dummy from rear to front along the main rail and along the branch rail connected therewith, a latch at the rear of the framework for holding the carrier and dummy against movement by the tension means, the said latch being optionally releasable manually to permit such movement, and means manually operable from a position at the rear of the framework and adjacent the latch for moving the switch.

9. In a football practice apparatus, the combination of a main framework, a movable carrier for a tackling dummy, a main guide rail for the carrier supported on the rear portion of the framework, a plurality of selectively usable branch guide rails for the carrier supported on the front portion of the framework, a manually operable switch for connecting the main rail with any one of the branch rails, means for moving the carrier and dummy from rear to front along the main rail and along the branch rail connected therewith, and means at the front of the switch for preventing observation thereof from a position at the front of the framework.

10. In a football practice apparatus, the combination of a main framework, a movable carrier for a tackling dummy, a main guide rail for the carrier supported on the rear portion of the framework, a plurality of selectively usable branch guide rails for the carrier supported on the front portion of the framework, a manually operable switch for connecting the main rail with any one of the branch rails, means remote from the switch for manually operating it, means for moving the carrier and dummy from rear to front along the main rail and along the branch rail connected therewith, and means at the front of the switch for preventing observation thereof from a position at the front of the framework.

RICHARD H. BANBURY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 784,037 Cundall Mar. 7, 1905 814,192 Dentler Mar. 6, 1906 1,670,703 Wylie et al May 22, 1928 2,153,384 Mazza Apr. 4, 1939 

